Trunk.



H. ROMiiNDBR.

TRUNK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1908.

1,015,51 1 Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

4 SHBBTSSHEET 3.

WITNESS ES."-,..Q'SWWMML I INVENTOR 09 V OR/VEY commuu rmuuuml'u cuv. WASHINGTON. n c

ROMUNDER.

\ TRUNK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1908.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

xe e eimi' 1 1 W/T/VESSES: I) 7 W MENTOR HERMANN ROMIl'NDER, OF MISHAWAKA, INDIANA.

TRUNK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

Application filed December 28, 1908. Serial No. 469,514.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN Ronrt'innnn, of Mishawaka, Indiana, have invented a Trunk, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to trunks, valises, packing-cases, and other boxes and packages, and has for its object to provide such articles of strong and durable character, impervious to moisture without requiring any additional covering, and which shall combine lightness of weight and simplicity and cheapness of construction with unusual strength and durability.

More particularly I aim to provide an improved construction of the trunk described and claimed in my former United States Patent No. 774,921, dated November 15, 1904, in which is shown a trunkor box made up of compound veneer-plates and provided with rounded corners and paneled sides.

The trunk referred to, while it represented an advance in the art showed, on beingsubjected to long and severe testing, certain weak points, which by the present construction I aim to eliminate. In my former construction I showed how a trunk could be constructed with all twelve of its edges and all eight of its corners rounded. Suchconstruction, when the elements of which the trunk is built are secured firmly together so that they cannot be separated, as by bending or shock, oifers great advantages in the manner of strength, because of the manner in which baggage is customarily handled at railroad stations. As well known, in the handling of baggage by railway-employees, porters and others, trunks are subjected to impact, shock and wear almost entirely upon their corners and edges, more particularly the end-edges, and they are usually skidded along floors and platforms upon their endedges, which, therefore, take nearly all the wear. In the square-edged construction, the body of the trunk is rigid, and such jars and impacts upon the edges and corners act violently to loosen up the nails and rivets which hold the boards or planks making up the trunk together, as well as the metal corner pieces, which-protect the wood against splintering. In the round-edged construction, on the contrary, the shock comes upon a Hat surface having some yield or give to it, so that the impact is taken up by the yielding of the edge-pieces, especially so when, as in my construction, they are made of more or less flexible compound veneer; hence when the elements are fastened together sufliciently securely to prevent their bein separated by mutual bending, there is no impact.

The particular defectof my construction describedin the aforesaid patent I have found to be in the loosening of the metal cap-plates at the corners, the reason for and manner of avoidingwhich were not entirely obvious; but by a series of prolonged tests I have discovered that this is due to impact upon the edge of the trunk beyond the metal corner-pieces, which because of the flexibility of the round edge-plate causes it to bend or yield as aforesaid, while the metal corner-piece has no such yielding quality, and therefore the rivets holding it in place necessarily become loosened. This is the particular defect which I seek in my present construction to eliminate. Furthermore, I aim to provide recessive edges, that is to say, edge pieces, which lie below instead of standing flush with the edges of the side-pieces, the latter being brought so close to the edges of the trunk that they protect the edge-pieces by taking a portion of the shock; especially so when, as" in my present construction, I reinforce them by girthstraps, and reinforce the girth-straps by filling-strips between them and the edgepieces, in a manner which will be described.

A further improvement in the present construction rests in the longitudinal bars or straps, which stand out beyond the surface of the side and edge-pieces sufficiently to absolutely prevent under any ordinary circumstances the impact falling directly upon the side or edge-pieces; and in the manner in which the elbows of said longitudinal bars are provided with metallic runners on which the trunk may be easily and safely skidded, and which prevent indentation, splintering and breakage of the bars themselves.

A further improvement in my present construction is the interlocking of the corner-pieces or cap-plates with the longitudinal bars and girth-straps in such a manner that it is practically impossible to subject the edge-pieces to shock or impact near the corners except as the impact is transmitted anger of their becoming separated by' special shape, acting in conjunctimr with the girth-straps and longitudinal bars to shield the edge-pieces at the corners.

rangement of side and edge-plates, girthstraps, filling-strips, longitudinal bars, runner and corner cap-plates, all"as;w1ll be hereinafter more particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

For the better understanding of my in-' vention I have described below the most improved form thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a perspective view,.a plan and a front elevation of the most improved form of my invention; and Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are transverse sec tions through the edges and corners taken respectively on the lines 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Fig. 2.

In these drawings every reference letter and numeral refers always to the same part.

. The trunk as shown comprises a body A and a cover B hinged thereto at one edge in any preferred manner, as by hinges C, and having fastening means such as a lock D, clips E, and tangs F at the opposite side. At the-sides may be arranged handle-straps G and guide-tangs H. These devices are, however, optional, and have no relevancy to the improvements here claimed. The trunkbody A and cover or lid B are substantially alike in construction except that one is deeper than the other, therefore it will be enoughto describe the latter one. It is made up of top-plate b of suitable material such as three-ply veneer, and four side-plates of the same material, and the edges are closed by means of curved edge-plates b of ,quadrantal section, as shown in the sectional views Figs. 3, 4t and 5, said edge-plates underlying the edges of the plates 6 and b". Each pair of side-plates b united together at their ends by quadrantally curved edge-plates b, which und'e'rlie the edges of the plates 6 The overlapping edges of all the plates are firmly secured together by a special gluing process, (forming no part of this invention), which constitutes them substantially a simple integ'ral" piece and renders rivets unnecessary for holding these parts together.

Transversely of the cover, to wit, from front to rear thereof, run the reinforcing or girth-straps b, which I prefer to make also of compound veneer, and which are secured to the plates 6 b and b at proper intervals by means of rivets 6 Where each girth-strap 72* passes around the edges, it will be observed that owing to the depression of theedge-plates below the top of the sideplates, there is an open space which can be filled by a filling-strip b", which is specially advantageous because it admits of an extra reinforcing thickness at this" partlcular point where it is most needed, without unduly overweighting the trunk with material which is not needed. My invention COIIlPI'lSQS the aforesaid ar The longitudinal reinforcement is further provided in the shape of a pair of bars 6 which run lengthwise along the front and back edges of" the plate 6 These bars where they turn over the end-edges are provided with reinforcements 6 which I shall term runners, for the reason that they serve for skidding the trunk smoothly along the floor or platform in the manner customary among baggage-handlers. It will be observed that the runners b are curved or conveXedboth longitudinally and transversely, as shown in the sections, Figs. 6and 7, whereby they are rendered extremely strong, and, besides completely cover the wood of the bars 6 at this point, effectually preventing the splin= tering or denting thereof by impact. Between the elbows of the bars 6 and the underlying surface of the plates 6 are also inserted reinforcing filling-strips b, in the same manner as under the girthstraps. Where the bars I) cross the girthstraps b, they are notched or mortised, as shown at b", to permit both elements to lie flush upon the surface of the plate [2 The construction of the corners according to my present invention is very difl'erent from that of my aforesaid patent, and is a very great improvement thereover. The corners are covered by a metal cap-plate I, which I prefer to make of drawn steel and of special shape which gives it both strength and resiliency. In the center it is provided with a raised boss or teat 2' surrounding which is a depressed annular rib, i the effect of which is to give the cap-plate a certain resiliency against shock while being at the same time very resistant against permanent deformation. Now it will be observed that this cap-plate is not merely riveted onto the inclosing plates, 6 b 6 and 6 as in my former construction; but the end-girth-straps b and longitudinal bars 6, which lie along the edges of the top-plate b overlap the edges of the cap-plate I, and are riveted to the plates 6 5 b and 19 through the metal of the cap-plate, which, therefore, is inclosed between them; as well as two filling-strips b and a third filling-strip, b ,'which provide a double thickness on the edge of the plate at the point of riveting. In addition to this, a raised quadrantal rib,- z' is formed on the horizontal side of the cap-plate I, and is complementary to the runner b and to the elbow of the girth:

strap 6* in forming a projection beyond the that thereby the corners are trebly and quadruply reinforced (especially on the sides protected by the runners 6 so that it becomes practically impossible to detach or loosen the cap-plates. Moreover, each of the three sets of edges is protected in several ways against receiving any shock; the longitudinal edges by the girth-straps and filling-strips b the horizontal end-edges by the runners 6 bars 6 and fillers b; and the vertical end-edges by the projecting ribs and filling-strips a and b. In addition the edge-pieces are protected by their being depressed below the side, top and bottompieces; the longitudinal edges by the bars 5 which lie along their margins; the horizontal end-edges in a similar manner by the end girth-straps b and the verticalendedges by both the longitudinal bars and end girth-straps, which lie on opposite sides of the edge-plates a, which, therefore, are depressed on all sides below them, and there is no possibility of a blow directly on the edge-plates except from a projecting point, corner or pointed instrument. It will be seen that these various reinforcements, by projecting beyond the various edgeplates in various ways, practically shield them not only against ordinary fiat floors but against such things as projecting nails or uneven surfaces. Hence the body of the trunk itself does not easily become marred or broken in transportation. At the same time the resilience and lightness of the trunk are preserved in every particular.

As the body of the trunk is constructed in exactly the same manner as the lid, the parts a to a which correspond in number to the parts 6 to Z9 need not be individually described.

At the edges of the lid and body the plates 6 overlie the edges of the plates a extending down slightly farther than the latter, so as to form in effect a rabbet or mortise-joint, and in like manner the sideplates 6 of the lid may overlap corresponding plates (not here shown), on the inside of the side-plates a of the body.

Various changes and modifications in the' constructions as herein shown may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I wish it understood therefore that the latter is not otherwise limited than ing across said middle, side and edgeplates and united thereto, and a plurality of longitudinal bars extending across said middle, side, and edge-plates and united thereto, said longitudinal bars being deeper than said transverse straps and recessed at the points where they cross the latter whereby they are adapted to lie upon the surface of the middle-plate; filling-strips underly* ing said girth-straps and bars between them and said edge-plates, and convex cap-plates filling the open spaces at the four corners.

2. In a trunk or box, the corner-construction comprising, in conjunction with the three quadrantally rounded edge-plates which meet at the corner and form the boxedges and have their ends truncated so as to leave an open space at the corner-angle, a corner cap-plate closing said open space, and two reinforcing members at right angles passing around adjacent edges of the trunk or box and secured to said edgeplates, the edges of said cap-plate lying between said reinforcing members and said edge-plates.

3. In a trunk or box, the corner-construction comprising, in conjunction with the three quadrantally rounded edge-plates which meet at the corner and form the boxedges and have their ends truncated so as to leave anopen space at the corneredge, a corner cap-plate closing said open space, and two reinforcing members at right angles passing around adjacent edges of the trunk or box and secured to said edgeplates, the edges of said cap-plate lying between said reinforcing members and said edge-plates; the said cap-plate having a raised quadrantal rib opposite the angle between the said reinforcing members and complementary to the latter,

4. The construction for a trunk which comprises, in combination with a trunkbody having rounded edges, projecting corner pieces at the ends of such edges, and reinforcing and protecting members in the form of straps or bars lying parallel with said edges at the sides thereof andprojecting beyond said edges, so that said edges are substantially shielded on all sides by projecting parts.

5. A construction for a round-edged trunk which comprises, in combination with side-plates, top or bottom plate, and quadrantally rounded edge-plates, secured together and leaving an open space at the corners, a spherical-octant-shaped cornercap-plate covering said open space, and having a raised rib on one side of the octant, in combination with reinforcing members covering the edges of the other two sides of the octant and secured to said top and edge-plates through the material of said cap-plate.

6. A construction for a round-edged trunk which comprises, in. combination with side-plates, topor bottom-plate, and quadrantally rounded edge-plates, secured together and leaving anopen space at the corners, a spherical-octant-shaped corner provided with a qu adrantal metal elbow of 10 cap-plate covering said open space, and U-shaped cross-sectlon.

having a raised rib on one side of the 00- In witness whereof -I have hereunto set tant, in combination with reinforcing memmy hand this 25th day of December, 1908. bers covering the edges of the other two HERMANN ROMUNDER sides of the octant and secured to said top and edge-plates through the material of Witnesses:

said cap-plate; the reinforcing member on JAS. BEARD,

the horizontal end-edge of the trunk being ERNST PICTZSOH.

Copies'of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

